The Steelers’ backfield picture is crowded enough that one veteran could end up wrecking the plans of two young challengers.
A lot of the attention has centered on Kaleb Johnson and Eli Heidenreich fighting for what looks like the No. 3 running back job, but Travis Homer is very much in the mix. And with Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle already sitting atop the depth chart, the Steelers do not need that third back to be a high-volume producer. They need someone who brings value in the other parts of the game.
That’s where the battle gets tricky for Johnson.
The 2025 third-rounder still has some appeal as a runner because of his power and vision, but he has not shown much as a pass catcher and does not profile as a special teams contributor. In a competition where roster value matters as much as raw rushing ability, that can be a problem.
Heidenreich offers a different kind of skill set. He can move around the offense and create a few splash plays on designed touches, but he still has work to do in pass protection and is not a traditional back who is going to consistently impact the run game.
Homer, meanwhile, has built a career on doing the dirty work that keeps him on rosters. The 27-year-old has not had more than nine touches in a season since 2022, and last year with the Chicago Bears he finished with -2 yards from scrimmage. Even so, he played 62 percent of the team’s special teams snaps, which is exactly the sort of role that can tip a roster decision.
He also has some kick return experience, logging 19 attempts for 473 yards and a touchdown over seven seasons. Early in his career, Homer showed more juice on offense too, averaging 5.3 yards per carry on 90 attempts while adding 55 catches for 475 yards.
The Steelers could decide to keep four running backs and find room for Homer plus either Johnson or Heidenreich. But if the job comes down to who can offer the most complete package, the veteran special teamer has a real path to beating both young backs to the 53-man roster.
In Other News...
Steelers Finally Face The Real Kaleb Johnson Question
Kaleb Johnsons first year in Pittsburgh never really got off the ground, and the numbers tell the story. The second-year back finished with 28 carries for 69 rushing yards and no touchdowns, a modest workload that left the Steelers with more questions than answers about how he fits into the offense. Even with a new season approaching, the path forward is not as simple as handing him a bigger role and seeing what happens.
Pittsburgh has also added Rico Dowdle and fullback Riley Nowakowski to the backfield mix, which means Johnson will have to earn every touch in a room that looks different than it did a year ago. Still, there is at least a sense that Mike McCarthys offense could open the door for a more balanced ground game, and Johnsons chance to move from afterthought to factor may depend on whether he can finally seize it. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers May Have Found More Than A Typical Seventh Round Safety
The Steelers used a seventh-round pick on Robert Spears-Jennings in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the Oklahoma safety brings more than the usual late-round rsum. He spent four seasons with the Sooners, worked his way into a two-year starting role and wore the captains label as a senior, giving Pittsburgh a young defensive back with experience, leadership and a background that suggests he can handle more than just camp competition.
What makes Spears-Jennings interesting for the Steelers is the blend of traits that could help him carve out a role on defense and on special teams. Pittsburgh has a history of finding value in backs who can do a little of everything, and Spears-Jennings has the kind of physical profile that leaves room for development, even if the next step is still being sorted out. The question now is whether the Steelers can mold him into the kind of versatile safety who becomes more than a depth piece. [Read more 🡒]